
Chapter 2
Technology basics
The sources of renewable energy depending on interpretation are somewhat wide
ranging since they consist of energy derived from numerous natural resources. Gener-
ally speaking, energy generated without using fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, or petro-
leum) or that is non-carbon emitting is said to be green, renewable energy. This broad
definition could allow for conventional nuclear reactors to be classified as renew-
able energy. However, typically legislation excludes nuclear as renewable energy due
to obvious controversy. Some also argue that biomass, along with waste to energy
processes, should not be classified as ...